A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 16 eBook

Discoveries after leaving Norton Sound.—­Stuart’s
Island.—­Cape Stephens.—­Point
Shallow-Water.—­Shoals on the American Coast.—­Clerke’s
Island.—­Gore’s Island.—­Pinnacle
Island.—­Arrival at Oonalashka.—­Intercourse
with the Natives and Russian Traders.—­Charts
of the Russian Discoveries, communicated by Mr Ismyloff.—­Their
Errors pointed out.—­Situation of the Islands
visited by the Russians.—­Account of their
Settlement at Oonalashka.—­Of the Natives
of the Island.—­Their Persons.—­Dress.—­Ornaments.—­Food.—­Houses
and domestic Utensils.—­Manufactures.—­Manner
of producing Fire.—­Canoes.—­Fishing
and Hunting Implements.—­Fishes, and Sea
Animals.—­Sea and Water Fowls, and Land Birds.—­Land
Animals and Vegetables.—­Manner of burying
the Dead.—­Resemblance of the Natives on
this Side of America to the Greenlanders and Esquimaux.—­Tides.—­Observations
for determining the Longitude of Oonalashka.

Having weighed, on the 17th in the morning, with a
light breeze at east, we steered to the southward,
and attempted to pass within Besborough Island; but
though it lies six or seven miles from the continent,
were prevented by meeting with shoal water. As
we had but little wind all the day, it was dark before
we passed the island; and the night was spent under
an easy sail.

We resumed our course, at day-break on the 18th, along
the coast. At noon, we had no more than five
fathoms water. At this time the latitude was
63 deg. 37’. Besborough, Island now bore
N., 42 deg. E.; the southernmost land in sight,
which proved also to be an island, S., 66 deg.
W.; the passage between it and the main S., 40 deg.
W.; and the nearest land about two miles distant.
I continued to steer for this passage, until the boats,
which were ahead, made the signal for having no more
than three fathoms water. On this we hauled without
the island; and made the signal for the Resolution’s
boat to keep between the ships and the shore.

This island, which obtained the name of Stuart’s
Island, lies in the latitude of 63 deg. 35’,
and seventeen leagues from. Cape Denbigh, in the
direction of S., 27 deg. W. It is six or seven
leagues in circuit. Some parts of it are of a
middling height; but, in general, it is low; with
some rocks lying off the western part. The coast
of the continent is, for the most part, low land;
but we saw high land up the country. It forms
a point, opposite the island, which was named Cape
Stephens, and lies in latitude 63 deg. 33’,
and in longitude 197 deg. 41’. Some drift
wood was seen upon the shores, both of the island and
of the continent; but not a tree was perceived growing
upon either. One might anchor, upon occasion,
between the N.E. side of this island and the continent,
in a depth of five fathoms, sheltered from westerly,
southerly, and easterly winds. But this station
would be wholly exposed to the northerly winds, the
land, in that direction, being at too great distance
to afford any security. Before we reached Stuart’s
Island, we passed two small islands, lying between
us and the main; and as we ranged along the coast,
several people appeared upon the shore, and, by signs,
seemed to invite us to approach them.